re: A "Perfect" Movie

quote:

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What I'm talking about is a movie where everything just works. The cast, their chemistry, the plot, possibly action, possibly humor, even the score.

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I would add what's even more important is that these films set out what they mean to do...and do it. 100%. They don't falter. They hit the point, the emotions conveyed, the goal. This is what separates the perfect films from even the great films.

To me, that intention is even more important than the superficial characteristics of the film. Those superficial characteristics are meant to communicate one kind of experience, and it's special when a film hits on every mark.

I think this is why a film like Monty Python, when all other parts of it the plot, the acting, the set design are all effectively subpar, or even awful, it's the point of the film, the goal, that is so fully realized that it trumps everything else. The fact that we don't need a coherent plot or dazzling acting to consider this film "great," is exactly the point of any story.

(I think this is an extreme example, but not necessarily the best of the best.)

I would say these movies are also timeless.

For me, this ends up being films like:

Throne of Blood
Vertigo
Seven Samurai
2001
Stalker
Halloween
Jaws
Spirited Away
Die Hard
Sleeping Beauty


etc. Most of these hit my Top 20 as well. I think the list of Perfect films, for me, is tiny, maybe 20-30 films tops. I would also argue that I recognize that some films I don't like personally, The Godfather Part 2, is exactly that. A perfect film. I just don't happen to enjoy it.